Hydrangea plant named ‘Kolmavesu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Kolmavesu’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; strong stems; freely flowering habit; and large upright conical inflorescences with white-colored sterile flowers that become red purple in color in mid-August in The Netherlands.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KOLMAVESU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kolmavesu’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new relatively compact Hydrangea plants that have a freely flowering habit with attractive inflorescence form and flower color.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from an open-pollination in August, 2006 in Boskoop, The Netherlands of Hydrangea paniculata ‘DVP Pinky’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,166, as the female, or seed parent with an unknown selection of Hydrangea paniculata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kolmavesu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kolmavesu’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.     -   2. Strong stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large upright conical inflorescences with white-colored         sterile flowers that become red purple in color in mid-August in         The Netherlands.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘DVP Pinky’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of         ‘DVP Pinky’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more upright than and not as         outwardly spreading as plants of ‘DVP Pinky’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bokratorch’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,292. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Bokratorch’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more upright than and not as         outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Bokratorch’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Bokratorch’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea change color in         mid-August whereas flowers of plants of ‘Bokratorch’ change         color in late August in The Netherlands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Kolmavesu’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Kolmavesu’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Kolmavesu’.

The photograph on the fourth sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Kolmavesu’ after the color change.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the summer and early autumn in 28-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural conditions typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 23° C. and night temperatures ranged from 3° C. to 15° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were four years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kolmavesu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘DVP Pinky’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,166.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Hydrangea             paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Method.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; creamy white             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and relatively compact plant             habit; somewhat narrowly inverted triangle; strong erect             stems; freely branching habit with about ten lateral             branches developing per plant, pinching enhances lateral             branch development; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 106 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 68.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 81.3 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 6.8 cm. Texture, developing:             Pubescent. Texture, fully developed: Smooth, glabrous.             Angle: About 15° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color,             developing: Close to 183C. Color, developed: Close to 200D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 12.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to narrowly ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Short attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Slightly rugose; sparsely pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Slightly rugose; pubescent.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Between 144A and 146C.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between             143A and 146A; venation, close to 152B. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Between 138A and 147B; venation,             close to 148D and towards the base, tinged with close to             182B to 182C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper surface: Pubescent. Texture, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 178A to             178B. Color, lower surface: Close to 182A to 182B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single fertile and sterile flowers             arranged on large upright conical panicles; panicles             terminal; sterile and fertile flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Very faint; sweet and pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from summer             to mid-autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity, fertile flowers.—About one week on the             plant; fertile flowers not persistent.         -   Flower longevity, sterile flowers.—About three weeks on the             plant; sterile flowers persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 900             fertile flowers and about 100 sterile flowers develop per             panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 17 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 11.8 cm.         -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 2.5 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to 145B;             towards the apex, close to 186B to 186C.         -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 144B to 144C.         -   Fertile flowers.—Diameter: About 5 mm. Depth: About 5 mm.             Shape: Rotate. Petals: Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 145D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 145D. Sepals: Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single             whorl. Length: About 0.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Short             triangular. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 145C. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 145C. Pedicels: Length: About 2 mm.             Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Ten.             Filament length: About 2.5 mm. Filament color: Close to             NN155D. Anther shape: Double reniform. Anther length: About             0.6 mm. Anther color: Close to 152C. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             Two, occasionally three. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma             shape: Flattened. Stigma color: Close to 145D. Style length:             About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close             to 144B.         -   Sterile flowers.—Shape: Rotate, cruciform. Diameter: About             2.7 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm. Petals: Quantity and             arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About 2.5 mm.             Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 155A; distal half, tinged             with close to 186D. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 155A; distal half, close to 61B. Sepals:             Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl. Length:             About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Obovate to broadly             elliptic, occasionally ovate. Apex: Obtuse to rounded. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 155B to 155C. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 157A to 157B; towards the margins and             apex, strongly tinged with close to 70D; with development in             mid-August in The Netherlands, color becomes closer to 59A             to 59B and 187D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 157A             to 157B; towards the margins and apex, strongly tinged with             close to 65A; with development in mid-August in The             Netherlands, color becomes closer to 187D. Pedicels: Length:             About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Angle: About 40° from stem axis. Texture: Moderately             pubescent. Color: Close to 155D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Eight.             Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D.             Anther shape: Double reniform. Anther length: About 0.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 151A. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About             2 mm. Stigma shape: Flattened. Stigma color: Close to 145D.             Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 144B. Ovary             color: Close to 144B. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Hydrangea. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Hydrangea     plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about −30° C. to about     40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Kolmavesu’ as illustrated and described. 